Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-09-24

were still plenty of them, and they were
always hanged when they were caught,
80 that they were not without some glory.
But, considered as heroes, they had had
their day. The degenerate successors Of
Claude Duval were either desperate muir
derers, like the Blacks of Waltham, or
they were poor, commonplace, ragged
footpads. But the smuggler-the man
who encountered the dangers Of war, of
storm and Of the revenue ofacers-was
still q hero. So that Dan leaped at once,
In the estimation Of VIII, from q good
natured, cheerful old sailor to the level Of
q sea king; and this despite the young
mans early training and prejudice.
Then came evenings in which after the
violin had ~discoursed, we sat round the
fire and talked of nothing else but old
trips and their results. Countless were
h questions put by Will-questions as to
the French coast, the French people, their
ways, and their manners; rs to the boat.
and the navigation Of the Channel; as to
the danger and the delight of running ff-
teen knots an hour. everything made snug
and taut, carrying all canvas, with
heavy seas washing over the gallant little
craft. never thought what might hap
pen. l had lived so long in an atmos-
phere of carclessness to danger that l had
quite ceased to believe in any danger.
And when Will begged Dan to take him,
too, when he made another run, l laughed
and clapped my hands to think how he
would enjoy It.
Dan made difficulties. He said it was
not a young gentleman's work; that his
lady mother might get to hear Of it; that
things might happen; that he would never
be easy in his mind afterward If anything
did happen. Finally, over-persuaded by
the eagerness of the young man, he ac-
coded to his request.
We were then in the cold evenings,
about the middle of October, and in the
last few days Of a waning moon. Tho
weather was fine and open, with a steady
southwesterly breeze springing up most
nights toward sunset, and lasting till late
the mex morning. Dan went over to the
mill to consult with Joshua, who read
lily resigned his place to Will, on the con-
dition OF his not losing rs place in the
profits, should the venture be successful.
I took this kindly of Joshua. thought
he must have passed into q better frame
of mind, although he had not been once
to the house since the day he threatened
me.
Everything being arranged and the
weather favorable, they went on board at
8 in the morning. l was in the dingy,
carrying things backward and forward
for them, and when Dan WAS satisfied
that nothing had been forgotten l dropped
into the little boat and sat in it watching
the Dancing Polly slip out Of tho bay
and glide into the darkness, while viii
leaned over the taffrail and waved ~ fare
well to me.
1t was nothing unusual for me to sleep
alone in the house. There was no danger
of robbers in so secluded u spot as Rous-
don, and there was always q sense of pro-
lection in the fact of old Isaac Agus and
his wife sleeping in the cottage hard by.
l had no fears for myself. Only, m
how, things were different now. I had
left off thinking of myself and thought
oil day and night of Will. That night,
for the first time, l was timid. 1 thought
Of the little boat sailing across the black
Channel to the cnemy's coast. | con-
jured up the dangers. Bonapartc might
catch them. He was at Boulognc then,
preparing for the invasion of England
with every ship, craft, boat of any kind
which he could collect together. The
Dancing Polly might be captured by "a
privateer; they might be arrested on the
French coast; they might be wrecked. I
thought of every danger except the one
most likely to happen-that they might
meet their difficulties On the return voy-
age. For the first time i'm my life l was
afraid, and while l sat before the fire con-
juring up the ghosts of possible disasters l
heard a step outside. the latch was lifted,
and Joshua Mech showed himself ut the
door.
l thought he had been drinking. His
eyes were haggard and Observation-Disclosures
eyes of his which were toe close together
and too small; his face was distorted and
his fingers worked n%ervously together.
They are gomez he asked, sitting OH
Dams settle, with u sort of groan.
yes" l replied, fearing he was come
for no good. "They put out at 8. Now,
Joshua, If you have anything to say have
done with it at once and go.n
GIVE got this to say" he replied
hoarsely. 'I'vc been trying to put you
out of my mind and l can't. Who's Mr..
Campion, that he's to come here and take
my girl?'
II was Your girl, Joshua"
"You should have been. I'd set my
heart on it. And you shall be yet. There
never was n thing that ] wanted as l did
not get. I've always looked to marry
you and nobody but you, and l will yet"
"Wil you:' / laughed. 'Nevcr!'
'Don't think l shall be an unkind hus-
band, my pretty" he said with a sudden
change of voice and manner. II love yol
too well. 1 shall wrap you up warm and
give you nothing to do only to make our
self happy"
"Now, Joshua" 1 said, ego! This is
enough foolishncss for one night. am
going to marry Mr.. Campion. Do vol,
hear? l am going TO be his wife"
eff you won't listen to fair words,n he
said, springing to his feet, "listcn TO foul.
Nv given you one more chance. It's
your last. VIII you give up that young
popinjayT'
"No, l will not. Coz
GIVE warned you," he said, "and I'm
desperate. Whatever happens, mind, it
will he all on your own head. Whatever
happens, you done it,"
l had no suspicion, not the least shadow
of suspicion, Of what he meant. II Josh
ua's anger made me fear anything, it was
that he might attempt some desperate
deed of personal violence. Al the same
time l was disquieted, and l longed for
the return Of the boat.
They sailed at 5, us l have said. If the
breeze continued steady, they might reach
the coast of France in the morning. Sup
that all went well, they would re-
ceive their cargo in a few hours, and
should he back in the early morning of the
following day-say from l to 8 o'clock,
before daybreak. But that depended en-
tirely on the wind.
What a long and dreary day that was!
!, who had never before minded being
solitary, thought each hour dragged itself
along more slowly than its predecessor. I
went out in the little boat, but it was only